Paryavaran Mitra Pariwaar J&K State

Ducks enjoying in Domanna pond to beat the summer heat wave. Pond is full of Pani Palak (edible) and other aquatic weeds. Small portion on western side of Pond is free from weeds. Pani Palak and other weeds provide very good shelter to these birds and their ducklings. This is a unique village where villagers provide protection to ducks. Today there were more than 10 Spot billed ducks and their ducklings. Good population of Teals were also seen. I counted more than 20 Teals. Bird watchers should visit this pond for wonderful photography of ducks and other birds. I request Wildlife department to recognize good work of Domanna village in providing protection to birds. This pond should not be made pucca as other ponds. Once government makes it Pucca no birds will come and no weeds will grow. Infact rural department should plant Lotus in this pond to make it more attractive.

Today sighted two pairs of Spot Billed Duck ( A**s poecilorhyncha ) in Dommana village pond reported nr (Not Common resident) in J&K by BNHS.

Glad to learn that Principal of GDC Ukhral is organizing activities in the college. I am sharing some pictures from my portfolio of NEAC Environment programmes we organized at Ukhral and Senabati about 13 years ago.

Participating in International Environment Education Conference at CEE Ahmedabad from 11th to 13th January 2015. Rare opportunity to learn from the international experience about the new concepts of environment education for sustainable development and its applicability in the local situations.

Science Express Climate Change Special at Samba railway station from 21st to 23rd November, 2015.

Science Express Climate Change Special.
Young students from KIDZEE pre nursery school attending Climate Change games in one of the coaches of SECAS.

Science Express special train on the theme Climate Change at Udhampur Railway Station.
SECAS is a joint environment education project of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Ministry of Science and Technology GOI. Centre for Environment Education (CEE) Ahmedabad is the nodal agency. This train will visit 64 stations in twenty states of India and travel 18000 kms.
Since the time train started more than 1,30,00,000 visitors including students have visited the Science express. This has been recorded in the Guinness book of record.
In 2013, at Udhampur railway station more than 20000 students visited the train. In 2014, at Bajalta railway station more than 15000 students visited the train. This year at Udhampur station more than 3700 students visited and at Samba more than 10000 students are expected to visit. On 21st already more than 5000 students and other visitors visited the train.
Education and Forest departments need to be more proactive and make arrangements to bring maximum number of students.

I am glad that several teachers have completed their EARTHIAN projects and submitted for national competition. Let us hope some of the teachers get National Awards.

Good News.
All teachers who participated in recently concluded GLOBE and WIPRO EARTHIAN teacher training workshops have started their school projects. These projects will be completed by end of October month. Results of their projects will be interesting and will help the schools and their students to better understand different environmental issues related to local areas. Some of the teachers have started sending the activity pictures but I cannot post the same because of some problem in facebook uploading. I request all teachers to send more pictures of their activities..

GLOBE Teacher Trainers Workshop organized at conference hall of TRC Jammu from 26th to 27th August 2015 by Ministry of Environment and Forests, ESI New Delhi and Centre for Environment Education and Training J&K with the active cooperation and support of Director School Education Jammu and CEOs of Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Kishtwar and Doda.

Launching of CEE Ahmedabad, WIPRO EARTHIAN project in Paryavaran Mitra HandPrint schools of J&K state on 1st Agust, 2015 at Dpartment of Environmental Sciences Jammu University. Dr. Pramod Kumar Sharma Project Coordinator CEE and Ms. Aarthi Sustainability consultant WIPRO were key resource persons in training of 90 teachers who attended the workshop. We will wait to see that how many will take up EARTHIAN project on water in their schools and qualify to win Rs. one lakh. Wish all the best to the participating teachers and schools who will complete the project successfully.

66th VanaMahotsava
Monsoon rains in Jammu have started and will remain for atleast two months. Please participate in WWF-India "ADOPT A TREE" campaign 2015. This year theme is Plant to Protect-Take home a Tree.
All are requested to get free saplings of local trees from WWF-India office Jammu University.
Contact our office and register yourself in this campaign. Individuals, organizations, institutions and government departments can participate.
We have already started the campaign and first plantation event was organized in one of the Parks jointly with Floriculture department and INTACH Jammu. Next is being organized at Sarore. Everyone to join this campaign and plant as many trees as possible to save the environment.
Not much activity is seen in Jammu.
All environment NGOs to participate in tree planting campaign.